Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 24th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 23rd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry overall with sunshine and broken cloud. Some early low-level fog patches will soon disperse, briefly cloud drifting over some hill slopes, but most mountains often clear all day. Light-moderate south-southeasterly breezes, locally gusty, stronger easterly winds mid & south Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Dry with sun, mostly clear hills. Local gusts.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10-15mph, some gustiness 20mph over the Cairngorm plateau, downslope to the north early. Shifting southeasterly, rising to 20mph more often on eastern tops afternoon, widely evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but some nuisance gustiness at times.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Small risk of a very isolated brief shower in the afternoon, mainly in the north.
Cloud on the hills?
Little expected
Patchy cloud at varied heights to start, mostly low-mid slopes with some fog in glens. Fragments lift to cap some higher slopes during the morning, but most cloud then above the higher summits by afternoon. Into night, cloud lowering over more east-southeast hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, more often sunny for a time northern Cairngorms. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 11C, perhaps a degree milder northernmost Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 25th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 23rd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 10 to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
A little drizzle possible at times mainly areas toward Lochnagar.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly in morning and toward east
Varied cloud banks from some lower slopes upward in the morning, some higher terrain may be at least briefly above cloud, but tending to drift higher up. May linger some eastern tops, largely breaking west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, rising to 80% near/west of A9.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best near Strathspey, some thin high cloud. Eastern areas may be cloudier especially morning. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C, coolest toward Deeside.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 23rd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 20 to 30mph, local stronger gusts in places around higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Generally breezy, local gusty areas may suddenly affect balance on high tops and locally downslope west of Cairngorms.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Patchy drizzle some eastern slopes where in cloud. Odd spots from high cloud elsewhere, later perhaps a burst of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and east
Banks of cloud fairly extensive south and eastern Cairngorms NP above 600-800m, rolling across higher slopes toward north and west, patchier toward Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south & east to 60% northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly near Strathspey, high cloud tending to thicken. Visibility good, some haze east and south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, up to 13C out of cloud afternoon. Feeling like 2 to 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure to the south will develop and drift across Britain into the second half of this week bringing increasingly wet conditions widely. Areas of rain will drift northward during Wednesday, possibly thundery showers forming over England & Wales. Heavy and thundery rain likely affects England, Wales & southern Scotland on Thursday-Friday, potentially prolonged heavy falls bringing a risk of flooding locally. Northwest Scotland likely driest. The eastern Highlands often covered in low cloud. Strong gusty easterly winds prevail for a few days through midweek. Into the weekend it remains unsettled with areas of rain and heavy showers, plus cooler northwesterly winds developing.